Economy grew in summer at best pace in 4 years; performance not expected to continue

Friday

Nov 30, 2007 at 12:01 AM

WASHINGTON — The economy barreled ahead in the summer, growing at a 4.9 percent pace. The performance was the strongest in four years but isn't expected to last through the current quarter amid the housing slump and credit crunch. Sales of new homes edged up in October but sales activity still hovered near an 11-year low.

JEANNINE AVERSA

WASHINGTON — The economy barreled ahead in the summer, growing at a 4.9 percent pace. The performance was the strongest in four years but isn't expected to last through the current quarter amid the housing slump and credit crunch. Sales of new homes edged up in October but sales activity still hovered near an 11-year low.

The Commerce Department's new reading of the gross domestic product from July through September, released Thursday, was even better than the government's initial estimate of a brisk 3.9 percent growth rate for the period. Stronger U.S. exports to overseas buyers and more inventory investment by businesses were the main reasons for the improvement.

A second report from the department showed that new-home sales increased 1.7 percent in October from September. That left sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 728,000. Even with the nudge up, sales have plunged 23.5 percent over the last 12 months. In September alone, sales dropped to a pace of 716,000, the lowest since 1996.

The median sales price of a new home fell to $217,800 in October. That is down 13 percent from a year ago, marking the biggest annual decline in prices since September 1970. The median price is where half sell for more and half for less.

In October, sales rose in all parts of the country, except for the West, where they tumbled 15.7 percent from the prior month. The slight increase in monthly sales nationwide didn't change the grim housing outlook.

And, the big pickup in GDP didn't change the picture forming in the current October-to-December quarter. That scenario is somewhat grim, with indications the economy will lose considerable steam.

Growth is expected to slow to a pace of just 1.5 percent or less in the final three months of this year.

GDP is the value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is the best measure of the country's economic health.

The upgraded GDP figure for the third quarter matched economists' forecasts. The strong showing suggested the economy was resilient even as the housing market plunged deeper into turmoil and credit problems intensified. Federal Reserve officials and other economists — looking at fresher barometers of economic activity — have warned that the economy is in for a rough patch.

In another report, the number of new people signing up for jobless benefits last week jumped sharply, suggesting employment conditions are softening as national economic activity slows. The Labor Department reported that new applications filed for unemployment insurance mushroomed by a seasonally adjusted 23,000 to 352,000. It was the highest level since Feb. 10.

There have been signs in recent weeks that the housing and credit problems are affecting the behavior of consumers and businesses alike.

Spending by consumers and businesses is the lifeblood of the country's economic activity. The big worry for economists is that consumers and businesses will cut back on spending and investing, dealing a blow to economic growth. The odds of a recession have grown this year. Still, Fed officials and many other economists remain hopeful the country will weather the financial storm without falling into recession.

The Fed has sliced interest rates twice this year — in September and late October — to keep the housing collapse and credit crunch from throwing the economy into a recession. Fed policymakers at the October meeting signaled that further rate reductions may not be needed. Since then, however, financial markets have suffered through another period of turmoil. The housing slump has deepened, consumer confidence has sunk and shoppers are flashing signals of caution.

Against that backdrop, investors and some economists believe the Fed might lower rates when they meet on Dec. 11.

Even with the remarkable GDP showing in the third quarter, the housing situation grew more bleak.

Builders slashed investment in housing projects by 19.7 percent, on an annualized basis. It marked the biggest cut in a year. Credit problems have made it harder for would-be home buyers to finance a home, deepening the housing slump. The inventory of unsold homes continues to pile up and builders continue to cut back. The industry's problems are expected to drag on well into next year, acting as a weight on national economic activity.

Businesses largely carried the economy in the third quarter. Sales of U.S. exports abroad powered growth. Those sales were aided by the falling value of the U.S. dollar, which make U.S. goods cheaper to buy on foreign markets. Exports grew by 18.9 percent on an annualized basis in the third quarter. That was the biggest increase in four years.

Inventory investment by businesses also added to GDP growth as did spending on equipment and software and construction of new plants, office buildings and other commercial construction.

The huge losses reported by financial companies due to the mortgage meltdown took their toll on corporate profits. One measure showed after-tax profits were flat in the third quarter after rising by 5.2 percent in the second quarter.

Consumers were somewhat subdued in the third quarter. Their spending grew at a 2.7 percent pace, up from a weak 1.4 percent growth rate in the second quarter but still considered lukewarm.

A separate GDP-related gauge of inflation showed that "core" prices — excluding food and energy — rose at a rate of 1.8 percent. That was the same as previously estimated but up from a 1.4 percent rate in second quarter. Still, the inflation figure was within the Fed's comfort zone.

Oil prices, which have been marching higher, have eased in recent days and are now hovering at above $90 a barrel. High energy prices can crimp spending by people and businesses on other things, putting another damper on economic growth. So far more expensive energy hasn't forced a widespread boost in the prices of lots of goods and services, which would spread inflation through the economy. But Fed officials — ever vigilant against inflation dangers — have said they'll keep a watchful eye on the situation.

The fallout in the housing and credit markets is weighing on President Bush.

The public is giving Bush low marks for his handling of the economy. Just 32 percent — a record low— approve of his economic stewardship, according to a recent AP-Ipsos poll.